7 Ways Massage Therapists Can Earn Respect

I had no idea that a comedian's comments could lead me here, now this is the 3rd post I'm writing after his comments and then the reaction in the massage community.To catch you up, Jim Gaffigan, the comedian, made some comments about massage therapists. I wrote about them and what I thought here. Then the massage community demanded respect, and I wrote about how you can respect your massage therapist . The problem is I have one more little issue with demanding respect from the massage community and that is:

Respect needs to be earned by massage therapists.

I said it. There's a lot of reasons there are some issues with the massage community and industry. There's issues with our associations and how we are regulated state vs state, those things don't mean much to our clients. I'm focused on how massage therapists can earn respect from other the health care professionals and our clients.Since I'm loving lists this week, here's another one for you.Ways your massage therapist can earn respect.

1. Show up. I know I put this on the "show respect to your massage therapist list", but it works both ways. By showing up your massage therapist is showing that their a professional.
2. Work within their scope of practice. In Florida: “Massage” means the manipulation of the soft tissues of the human body with the hand, foot, arm, or elbow, whether or not such manipulation is aided by hydrotherapy, including colonic irrigation, or thermal therapy; any electrical or mechanical device; or the application to the human body of a chemical or herbal preparation. It does not mean nutritional counseling or counseling to ingest essential oils. It does not mean to diagnose or offer alternative treatments other than massage.
3. Work within our knowledge, understanding, and training. If a massage therapist doesn't know something, they should say "I am not sure about that, let me do some research/refer you to (insert someone that does know) because that's what they do." This could be how massage affects a medication or if you wan't a technique they do not have the proper training in.
4. Have clarity in pricing. There shouldn't be one price on facebook, one price on their website, and another price in the office.
5. They shouldn't say stupid shit. Massage therapists are amazing at creating and repeating legitimate sounding reasoning why massage or a particular technique works. We shouldn't be making up anything, or promising things that are not proven. Massage feels good. We don't need a crazy reason. Lactic acid is not a toxin. Water doesn't flush toxins from your system after a massage.
6. Massage therapist should act professionally. They shouldn't be bashing clients on Facebook or making fun of them in their podcast. Massage therapists shouldn't deny a pregnant woman a massage because their scared they might get sued.
7. Massage therapists need to keep professional boundaries. Clients are not on our tables to hear all about our issues and lives. (That's what a blog is for.) We are there to provide massage, relieve pain, tension, and stress and to provide a great experience.

I know my list isn't going to change the massage industry. It's a great start for massage therapists to start acting like professionals in the healthcare industry.If we have already earned your respect or you want to give a chance to, schedule your appointment online, anytime.